One Strategy for When Students Refuse to Comply
Ever looked at a student and wondered, why can’t they just follow a simple request or rule? I asked them something simple, yet they turned it into a fight. Why!? Sometimes there is more going on than we initially realize, including factors that could be negatively impacting the student’s capacity to do what you asked. As we know, “failure to comply” is one of the more common behaviors we observe across all grade levels. One factor that affects a student’s willingness to heed the directive or instruction is how it is delivered. Communicating using a warm tone is critical, while maintaining firm boundaries and honoring students’ dignity. In order to increase the likelihood of compliance, it is essential that adults always model the behavior we seek. Asking a student to speak with you privately in a quiet, controlled voice can be a great strategy that reflects the practice: Building Behavior Momentum. We know that no one benefits from public shaming. If a student accepts your invitation to talk, they’ve already complied with two requests; they have ceased their current behavior and they have agreed to come talk to you. Once that momentum has started, the student will be more likely to comply with the other non-preferred ask or shift their behavior so that it reflects appropriate behavior expectations. Smaller requests are less likely to be met with resistance, hence building toward compliance of desired behavior and/or necessary academic requests. See this video for more information.
References
“Behavior Momentum Strategy.” PBS LearningMedia, KET, 8 Feb. 2021, virginia.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ket-pd-deescalation2/behavior-momentum-strategy/.
